Gardeners often wish for a better harvest and abundant yields. We often worry if our plants are getting the right amount of sunlight that they need. Luckily, HPS bulbs were created. Now, we don’t have to worry about our plants getting less light.

HPS bulbs can be used in indoor gardens and greenhouses. This is to give plants the light that they need

In this article, we are going to list down the top five best HPS bulbs that your garden should definitely have. I’ll walk you through on which bulb to choose and the right wattage that you should get.

What is HPS Bulb?

High pressure sodium bulbs were invented in 1964. These bulbs were used to help indoor plants to grow. It is composed of a narrow arc tube that supports the frame inside the bulb. The arc tube is kept on very high temperature, and it is filled with chemical elements like mercury, xenon and sodium. These chemicals make the bulbs brighter when they are in use.

This bulb is one of the best HPS bulbs for grow light system. It is a spectrum bulb. This bulb can reach the highest peak of the red spectrum. It is more durable compared to other brands. You can extend its usage beyond the growing season. It contains less mercury and is lead-free, which makes it good for your plants.

Pros

The bulbs are durable and long lasting.

They emit the brightest lights.

These bulbs are cheaper compared to other brands.

Cons

Bulb scratches upon purchase. Make sure that you purchase them from a reputable seller.

This 4-star grow bulb is considered one of the best HPS bulbs for digital and magnetic reflectors. It can produce up to 1400 lumens and 2100 red and orange spectrum. It has a high PAR which can help stimulate flowering and fruiting plants. This bulb is specifically designed for hydroponics. It has a low power consumption and can last up to 5,000 hours of high lumen output.

Pros

It is a durable grow light bulb. It can last longer than the growing season.

The bulb has a low-lumen depreciation compared to other brands.

Comes with a one-year warranty.

It is cheaper compared to other brands.

Cons

Some sellers would sell defective bulbs. It is best to get them from a reputable seller.

You need to check if it works with your magnetic reflector to avoid bulb problems.

Apollo Horticulture is one the best HPS bulbs for electronic and magnetic ballast. It can produce up to 140,000 lumens. This bulb helps enhance flower growth and fruiting. It is designed for Hydroponic Plant cultivation. It can reach the 2000K red-orange spectrum. It can last more than 24,000 hours and has low power consumption. It runs up to 110V.

This 4-star HPS bulb operates on 120 to 240 volts. It can produce 90,000 lumens and can be dimmed up to 250 watts. It comes with a ballast and reflector. The reflector is made from the best German aluminum. It also has a digital timer that helps control lighting and ventilation simultaneously.

Pros

Adjustable ballast.

Comes in with a digital ballast, metal reflector and digital timer.

The digital timer helps control the ventilation and light emitted towards the pants.

The ballast comes with a 3-year warranty.

The reflector is durable.

Cons

The digital ballast rattles when you adjust the light.

Problems with the seller. It is best to get them from a reputable buyer.

The VIVOSUN hydroponic One is considered one of the best HPS bulbs because of its compatibility. It is compatible with magnetic and electronic ballast. It can produce 90 0000 Lumens. It has a high PAR emission which can help flower growth and enhance fruiting on fruit-bearing plants. It is durable. It can last up to 24 000 hours even with high lumen output.

Pros

It has a low lumen depreciation.

It has a short start time. you don’t have to wait long to use the HPS lights.

It is affordable.

It produces a really bright light.

Cons

Has severe hot spots.

It burns out easily.

The bulbs rattle a bit.

How Does It Work?

The bulb starts with a pulse. The pulse is created in the arc. With the help of xenon gas, the bulb lights up with a light blue color. Once the arc heats up, mercury lights up the bulb with a vivid blue light. Then, the light turns white when the sodium gas vaporizes and when the heat reaches 450 degrees Fahrenheit (250 degrees Celsius).

Why Do We Need a Ballast and Reflector?

Having the right light ballast is very important when you plan to have a grow light system. The ballast controls and balances the light discharges emitted from the HPS light.

The light ballast contains a negative resistance and carries the current throughout them. It uses a reflector to help even out the distribution of heat emitted from the HPS bulbs.

Without these two, your indoor plants will suffer from severe heat and less distribution of light. It is important that you get the right light ballast and reflector to ensure health and abundance in your plants.

Using traditional bulb doesn’t help your plants’ growth as compared to HPS bulb

Why Do We Need Them In The Garden?

Because of the advancement of technology, many gardeners have started using HPS bulbs for the indoor gardens. The grow light system is often used for indoor flowering plants. The system allows the indoor plants to get the right amount of lighting that it needs.

HPS bulbs are often used in grow light system because it has more energy in the red part of the spectrum, which is a good spectrum for plants. It has a lumen output of 80-160 lumens per watt. Because of this, the bulbs can help promote flowering and fruiting of indoor plants. Most of the plants that grow under the grow light system are elongated. However, this can be tweaked with the use of blue light bulbs.

HPS bulbs helps promote plant growth as well as improve plant health

These bulbs have a better PAR efficiency compared to other kinds of bulbs. It is also cheaper and more reliable than others. HPS bulbs often heat up and can cause problems with the plants and flowers. When setting up growing light system, it is very important that you see a professional who can help you adjust the heating of your greenhouse or indoor garden.

What is The Right Wattage for Your Garden?

The wattage of your HPS bulb differs depending on the size of your garden. It is important that you get the measurement of your garden tent or greenhouse in order to get the best HPS bulb for your garden needs.

150 Watt HPS Bulbs

Many 150 watt HPS bulbs come with a built-in ballast and reflector. Unlike the other bulb wattage, the 150 watt HPS bulbs don’t usually heat up. However, it is also the least efficient among the bulb sizes. This bulb can light up at least 1.5’ x 1.5’ or 0.45m x 0.45m. Make sure that your plants are at least 6’’ or 15cm away from your canopy.

250 Watt HPS Bulbs

Just like 150 watts HPS bulbs, 250 watts HPS bulbs also come with their own reflector and ballast. 250 watts HPS bulbs can be really difficult to find in hardware and garden depots. Compared to the 150 watts HPS bulbs, the 250 watters can heat up easily. It is very important that you seek a professional to install some cooling equipment to ensure that your plants will not wilt down from too much heat.

250 watters are the best HPS bulbs for gardens that have the sizes of 2.5’ x 2.5’ or 0.75m x 0.75m. Make sure that plants are placed 10 inches or 24 centimeters away from the canopy. This is one of the most efficient HPS bulbs for greenhouses and gardens

400 Watt HPS Bulbs

400 watts HPS bulbs are more productive compared to the lower wattages. This is the most common HPS bulb sold in the market. 400 watts HPS bulbs are considered the best HPS bulbs because they emit more heat. It can also provide a bigger amount of PAR compared to the other wattages.

400 watts HPS bulbs are sold separately from the ballast and reflector. However, you don’t have to worry about the price. The bulb is sold for a very affordable price. The 400 watts HPS bulbs are also sold in an all-in-one grow lights fixture.

600 Watt HPS Bulbs

A 600 watts HPS bulb is considered the most effective HPS bulb for gardening. This bulb can produce up to 90,000 lumens or 150 lumens per watt. This wattage can convert a very big amount of electricity into usable light.

Aside from being the best HPS bulb size, it also has the least heat waste compared to the others. It can light up to 4.5’ x 4.5’ or 1.4m x 1.4m. The plants should be 18 inches away from the canopy. Make sure that the plant distance is well implemented to make sure your plants receive an equal amount of light.

1000 Watt HPS Bulbs

1000 watts bulbs are more efficient than 400 watts bulbs but are less effective compared to 600 watts. Although it has a bigger lamp, it also produces more heat. The heat can cause major problems with your plants. Growers have recommended using two 600 watts bulbs before using 1000 watts lamps. This will help your plants adapt with the heat before changing to a higher wattage.

A 1000 watts bulb is the best HPS bulb size for people who have a 6’ x 6’ or 1.8m x 1.8m-garden. Plants should maintain a distance of 24 inches away from the hydroponic tent.

Double-ended Hps Bulb

Double-ended HPS bulbs are the state of art bulbs that are most recommended by many growers. This is the best HPS bulb if you want better yields and more fruits for your indoor garden. The DE HPS bulbs have a 10% more PAR output compared to others.

It is also cheaper and more cost-effective compared to other HPS bulbs. This bulb has larger peaks on the red spectrum. It can also emit more infrared light ad UV lights compared to standard HPS bulbs.

Although, DE HPS bulbs are considered as one of the best HPS bulbs, this can cause more problems for your plants. It easily heats up, and it can also attract pests due to the heat emitted by the bulbs.

Conclusion

HPS bulbs can help you make the most for your indoor garden. In choosing the HPS bulb for your garden, it is best that you consider the length of the garden and the kind of plants that you want to keep. It is best that you seek a professional to help you plan out your grow light system.

These are just some of the HPS bulbs available in the market. There are definitely other brands out there, but these 5 are the ones that make it on our list. If you have some suggestions or experiences to share, don’t forget to write them down in the comment box below. Thank for reading!

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Lucy M. Clark

Hi there! I’m Lucy, and I’m a self-confessed garden fanatic. Gardening has always been a passion of mine and will always be my favorite pastime. Now that I am married and have one adorable son, I have the time to write and share my personal experiences with other garden enthusiasts like me.

Hi everyone! I’m glad you found your way to my gardening blog. I’m Lucy M. Clark. I started gardening sometime in the early 2006. Back then, I was a total gardening neophyte. I was living in Florida, I had my own little yard, and I knew that I wanted to have a lush and beautiful garden.

Sadly, I had no idea what I was doing. With no green thumb and no experience with gardening at all, I really struggled. My yard was in poor shape and a lot of my plants didn’t make it. However, I didn’t give up. I knew that I wanted to have my own garden and with enough patience and dedication, I could develop my own green thumb and have my dream garden!

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